Mexicans

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT MEXICANS

June Casagrande Mayor Steve Bromberg said Wednesday that Councilman Dick Nichols should consider stepping down from the council in the wake of Nichols' comments about people he identifies as Mexicans using the beach. But Nichols on Wednesday vigorously defended his statement. "If Mr. Nichols' comments about specific minorities reflect the way he truly feels, he should consider resigning as councilman because that's not truly representative of the best interests of this community," Bromberg said.

June Casagrande As City Council members prepare to hear a proposal for improvements at Corona del Mar State Beach, Councilman Dick Nichols on Tuesday said he opposes adding more grassy areas to the beach in part because "Mexicans" dominate these areas. "With grass we usually get Mexicans coming in there early in the morning and they claim it as theirs and it becomes their personal, private grounds all day," Nichols said in a phone interview. The comment was just one of many points the councilman made as he explained his opposition to the proposed improvements, but it is the one that most troubled his colleagues.

I don't want to assume that you know all of the bad examples that our leaders are setting for our kids, so here's a brief recap: Responding to a proposal to expand the grassy areas on Newport Beach beaches, City Councilman Dick Nichols told the Daily Pilot, "With grass, we usually get Mexicans coming in there early in the morning, and they claim it as theirs, and it becomes their personal, private ground all day."...

Nichols comments don't speak for Newport Last night, I watched coverage of a past Newport Beach City Council meeting, much of which was spent listening to the defenders of Councilman Dick Nichols. These people were defending Nichols' comments regarding the integrity of the planning commissioners. I understand that everyone makes mistakes and that you make your apologies and move on. However, Nichols' latest comments regarding the increase of grassy areas at the beach are clearly unacceptable.

June Casagrande Members of Greenlight's old guard are divided on how Councilman Dick Nichols' comments about Mexicans might affect their cause, but they agree that Nichols' comment was, at best, unwise. And they're not surprised that Nichols would make such a comment. "Dick Nichols is my friend, I admire his honesty and his ability. It's unfortunate that he puts his foot in his mouth," said Allan Beek, who authored the original Greenlight initiative and who, like Nichols, ran on a Greenlight ticket in the last City Council election.

Pardon me if I'm a bit baffled by the argument from supporters of embattled Newport Beach City Councilman Dick Nichols that somehow his First Amendment rights are being called into question. Nichols has every right to say the outlandish, small-minded comments that he wants. But on the flip side, those who disagree with him also have First Amendment rights. Mayor Steve Bromberg and his council colleagues also have First Amendment rights. They have the right, as do others, to tell Nichols they think his remarks are bigoted, hurtful and stereotypical.

Dick Nichols just doesn't get it. That is why it is time for him to go. The rookie Newport Beach City Councilman has once again embarrassed his city and his constituents with a shoot-from-the hip comment, the latest of which implies he has a problem with people of Mexican descent using the state beach at Corona del Mar. Nichols has shown no remorse for the comment, contending he was quoted out of context....

It must be the first rule politicians learn when they assume office: When in the hot seat, blame the media. Just say you were misquoted or speaking off the record, or my personal favorite, taken out of context. The latter is what we are hearing these days from the reigning king of all hot seats, Newport Beach Councilman Dick Nichols. Nichols, if you haven't heard, told our Newport Beach City Hall reporter June Casagrande that he opposed expanding the grass areas at Corona del Mar State Beach because "Mexicans" show up and take over the turf.

Lolita Harper Just say the city's name, and you'll know that Latino roots are dug deep in its history. Costa Mesa means "table (or plateau) by the coast" in Spanish. Mesa Verde (green table) and Mesa del Mar (table by the sea) also boast Spanish names. Latinos, who in 1990 made up 20% of the city's population, made up 31.8% in 2000, according to the 2000 census. Despite the recent boom, the Latino population has a long history in the city, from its agricultural to industrial era and now to the service and entrepreneurial era. Mitch Barrie, a member of the Costa Mesa Historical Society, has said that many of the Latinos living in the city were farm workers who lived near the farms on the Westside.

As I was watching the Adventures of Sir Nichols and the City Council on TV Tuesday night, I tried to be shocked, I tried to be surprised. I tried not to get pierced. I failed at all three. It neither shocked me nor surprised me to hear the anger and the hatred from the people who disdain anyone other than their own. But it pierced me deeply. I, a man of very few tears, tasted the moist saltiness stinging from eye to mouth that became wormwood to my soul.